One of the Wayland’s most popular concerts involves absolutely no instruments, and no sheet music: just voices. CAPA, the Creative Arts Parents Association, held its semi-annual fundraiser last Friday night: the College A Cappella concert. The event took place in the Middle School Auditorium and featured three college a cappella groups, along with Wayland High School’s very own T-Tones, Madrigals and Muses. The college groups performing were the Bowdoin College Miscellania, Amherst College DQ, and Brandeis VoiceMale.

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Wayland seniors Sam Boegehold & Jon Bailey hosted the concert, providing comedic interludes between groups, telling jokes and performing a skit. The audience was entertained by Jon and Sam’s stretching routines before the concert, as well as their interesting costume choices.

Wayland High School alumnus Kathryn Jordan, WHS class of ‘06 and former WHS Muse, is a member of Bowdoin College Miscellania, an all-girl a cappella group from Bowdoin College in Maine. Miscellania led off the concert, performing a rendition of “Wikked lil’ grrrls”, followed by “Smile,” featuring Kathryn Jordan, “God’s Gift to Women”, and “Hit the Road Jack.”

Second performers of the night were WHS alumnus Dan Barnes and the Amherst DQ, a co-ed a cappella group at Amherst College. Barnes is a WHS ’08 grad and former Madrigal, who soloed in the DQ’s final song, “The Way” by Fastball. Along with “The Way”, the DQ (“Double Quartet”) performed five other songs, including “The Riddle” and “Georgia On My Mind.”

Following the DQ, the WHS Muses performed, starting with “Leave the Pieces” by the Wreckers, featuring Lauren Astley. Next, Julia Vinha soloed on “Mama Who Bore Me,” from the musical Spring Awakening.

After a brief intermission with snacks, the T-Tones and Madrigals led off the second half of the night. The T-Tones came on stage with “Come Go With Me,” (The Beach Boys), with Josh Mills on the solo. The T-Tones then called up a volunteer from the audience for the comedic song, “Most Beautiful Girl in the Room,” and Bobby Dresser wowed singing solo. Subsequently, the Madrigals sang John Lennon’s popular song, “Imagine.” with Dan Hyde soloing. Following Dan, Anna Sharry soloed on Natasha Bedingfield’s “Unwritten” to finish off the string of high school groups.

The final act of the night, Brandeis VoiceMale, is a seven-man, all-male a cappella group from Brandeis University, whose version of “Where is the Love” was recently chosen for the Best of College A Cappella (BOCA) 2009 Album. Before the show, VoiceMale led a master class for the WHS groups, which including song coaching and tips for having fun on stage.

Brandeis knocked the crowd’s socks off with arrangements of “Redemption”, a VoiceMale original called “Please Don’t Go,” as well as “Poker Face” and three others. Finally, they called up the WHS groups to perform “Fallen,” the song the students learned in the master class.

Senior Madrigal Sylvia Lorenzini remarked, “Brandeis was amazing. They were really friendly and helpful when they taught us one of their songs, and I thought it was a great experience being able to perform with them at the end.”